VoL Desk, Sep. 23: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan chaired a meeting to discuss the issues of taxi operators of District Kargil including the demand for UT level permit here at Council Secretariat today.

Besides the CEC, Executive Councillors: Mubarak Shah Nagvi, Syed Mehdi Fazily, Er Phunsuk Tashi, Regional Transport Officer, Assistant Regional Transport Officer Kargil, and members of taxi operators union attended the meeting.

Briefing media persons after the meeting, CEC Feroz Khan said that accusing the LAHDC on UT level permit issue is not a valid reason as this decision is beyond the domain of the Council. The demand for UT permit is a decision of the Administration. But, right from the first day the Council is playing its role.

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The CEC further said that in the meeting, the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) informed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has also signed with the Jammu and Kashmir UT. This was signed after consultation with taxi operators union of both the districts.

“The Regional Transport Officer said that in a meeting last year the Kargil taxi operators Union had said that if their taxes are allowed on highway from Leh to Jammu then they don’t need any UT level permit”, the CEC quoted.

“However the Leh Union had said that if the Administration provide J&K permit to Kargil taxi they don’t need permit for J&K. Accordingly, after signing the Memorandum of understanding with J&K, the Regional Transport Office convened both the taxi Union in a meeting a month before where both the unions did not stood to their promise”, the CEC added.

“The Kargil Taxi Union demanded UT permit and Leh Union demands 10 percent of the J&K permit for their vehicles. Unfortunately there is no recording or minutes of meeting of that meeting which could work as a proof.

“I personally and on behalf of Kargil Council believe that if the administration repeatedly ask the taxi operators, they would not reach on a decision that is causing problem to the public passengers. The Administration should work as per law. The transport Act says that there are three types of permits: district, state and national. The choice is of the Transporter to choose whatever he want.

“If the government say that they are not providing state permit to Kargil taxis they must admit that in writing with reason.

“In ending August 2020, a meeting of State Transport Authority UT Ladakh was chaired by Secretary Transport. In the meeting, of which we have a copy, has decided to convert the permit of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into respective district, UT level and national level permit. When the two unions had some tension the decision was kept on hold. The Administration must implement this decision.

“Secondly, few vehicles have seized in both Leh and Kargil over not having permit. On the other side permit is not issued since last 2 years by the Administration. Then, how the operators would renew their permit when government itself has not issued permit. There is no right to seize the vehicles. These vehicles must be released immediately.

“If the Leh Taxi Union has apprehension that the Kargil taxies would ply in their inner line areas; the taxi Union Kargil has assured that the preference must be given to Leh taxis. In the past season 50 percent of Kargil vehicles also ply in Leh. the Kargil taxis will ply in inner lines only after request and demand by the Leh Taxi Union.

“It is the responsibility of the administration to issue and renew permit otherwise explain the reason in writing. CEC further said that unless this issue is resolved tensions between the two districts cannot be normalized.

The Regional transport Officer said that earlier a good number of taxis in Ladakh had all J&K permit but in the Re-organization act it is written that the permit is valid till the last date mentioned on the permit. After that the taxi operators has to change the permit with their respective norms.

“Earlier, we discussed with both the union who suggested that if the highway from Leh, Kargil, Srinagar and Jammu is opened for the Kargil taxi and district permit is issued for the taxis of Leh, both the unions would be agreed”, said the RTO.

“Accordingly, the Transport Department worked for 6 to 7 month on this plan and finally signed an MOU with J&K UT. However, both the unions change their stand. Now we will discuss the current situation with the higher authorities in the administration”, the RTO added.

The Taxi Union Kargil Officials said that we have unanimously demanded for UT permit in the meeting. The LAHDC has assured to stress on the Administration to provide permit as per law while keeping the commentary of the Taxi Unions on bay.